Oil-cup



(No Model.)

J. M. OO'ALE. OIL 011?.

N0 479,246. Patented July 19, 1892,

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH M. OOALE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

OIL-CUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent N0. 479,246, dated July 19, 1892.

Application filed February 24, 1892. Serial No. 422,621. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. COALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil- Cups; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to oil-cups, especially those used in locomotives. vIt is found that the constant jarring of the engine loosens the caps of the oil-cups, so that they are frequently lost. This induces the machinist to use extra force in screwing on the caps, so that when it is attempted to remove one of them for the purpose of filling the cup the entire cup is liable to be unscrewed from the rod or guide to which it is attached by its threaded stem; but if the cups are set up too hard when screwed into place the brass stems are in danger of being twisted off. Moreover, in guide-cups which have a conical or needle valve to regulate the feed the sediment tends to follow down the valve and clog the feed-duct.

My invention overcomes all these difficulties; and it consists in an oil-cup which can be filled without unscrewing the cap, which has a wrought-iron stem strong enough to be firmly screwed into the rod or guide, and which has a conical feed-valve that cannot become clogged.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section of an oil-cup for a connecting-rod or side rod. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of an oil-cup for a guide-bar or crosshead. Fig. 3 is atop plan View of Fig. 1; and Fig. & is a top plan view of Fig. 2, showing the cover for the filling and vent orifices open.

The body A of my oil-cup is externally screw-threaded at its upper end to receive the internal thread on the cylindrical flange b of the cap B. Two holes bb are drilled through the cap to serve as filling and vent orifices. They are slightly countersunk to facilitate the insertion of the spout of the oil-can. Since the holes are of equal size, the spout can be applied to either of them, the other serving as a vent. To protect these holes from dirt, a cover is provided. It may be attached to the cap in various ways; butI prefer the construction shown, in which a plate 0, of suitable size to cover the holes, is provided with a spindle c, passing vertically through a central hole in the cap B, midway between the holes 1) o The plate is of such awidth that when turned transversely to a line joining the holes it will expose them, as shown in Fig. 4.

Different modes of locking the plate when covering the holes will suggest themselves; but I prefer that shown in the drawings. A shallow groove or recess 79 is formed in the cap B, adapted to receive the plate 0. The groove and plate are preferably provided with beveled edges to insure a tight fit. A convenient mode of forming the groove is to cut it across an elevated portion 19 of the cap. The holes I) b lie in the bottom of the groove on either side of the spindle 0. An annular flange b surrounding the spindle, sustains and guides it in avertical position. A collar 0 is fastened to the lower end of thespindle and forms a seat for a helical spring D,which encircles the spindle and abuts against the under side of the cap around the flange Z). The spring holds the cover 0 tightly to its seat, but permits it to be lifted by means of the knob O and'turned to a position transverse of the groove 19 when the cup is to be filled, as shown in Fig. 4 and by dotted lines in Fig. 2. \Vith this construction it is unnecessary to remove the cap B except for cleaning or repairs, and said cap may therefore be screwed so tightly upon the cupthat it will not become loosened by the jar of the engine. The location of the screw-threads on the outside of the cup, where the oil cannot get at them, assists in maintaining a tight joint. As an additional safeguard, however, I may provide the collar 0 with two radial arms 0 which, when the cover 0 is lowered into its seat, drop in behind the lugs don the inside of the body A, and thus afford an absolute lock for the cap B. The screw-threaded stem by which the cup is attached to the rod or guide is usually made integral with the body A, as shown in Fig. 2. My improved stem A is made of wrought-iron and is screwed into a tapped opening in the bottom of the cup witha collar a to abut against the under side of the bottom. Its upper end pro jects into the cup, where it receives a locknut. I prefer to utilize the yoke E for this purpose, making it separate instead of integral with the cup. Its use as alock-nut does not interfere with its primary function, that of supporting the screw F for adjusting the feed of the plunger-valve G, commonly used in rod-cups. Guide-cups usually have a conical valve to adjust the feed. \Vhen located at the bottom of the cup, the apex of this cone being downward, the sediment in the oil follows down the valve and clogs the feed-duct. I obviate this by the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. The duct l-I commences at the apex of a conical seat a The valve I is a screw working in a tapped hole in the yoke E, and having in its lower end a conical recess 1', which coacts with the seat a By this construction the sediment tends to fall away from the duct 11 and to collect in the annular well at around the yoke.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An oil-cup having filling and vent holes in its cap, a cover adapted to open and close said holes by a partial rotation, and a spring holding said cover upon the cap, substantially as described.

2. An oil-cup having filling and vent holes in its cap, a cover for saidholes, consisting of a plate mounted upon a stem, on which it has both a rotatory and an axial sliding movement, and a spring holding said plate against the cap, substantially as described.

3. An oil-cup having filling and vent holes and an oblong groove in its cap, a cover for said holes, consisting of a plate adapted to be received in said recess, and means for holding said plate yieldingly in the recess, substantially as described.

4. An oil-cup having filling and vent holes and a transverse groove in its cap, a cover for said holes, consisting of a plate adapted to be received in said groove, said plate being ro- 5 tatable and also axially movable, and having a spring holding it in said groove, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the oil-cup A, of the cap 13, provided with a transverse groove and having the holes b 11 opening into said groove, the plate 0, having a spindle 0 midway between said holes, the collar c on said spindle, and the spring B, compressed between said collar aud the cap B, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the oil-cup A, having the lugs a, and the cap B, having the filling and vent holes and the groove, of a plate O,having a spindle 0, provided with the collar 0 and arms 0 and the spring D, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with an oil-cup A, of a tubular wrought-iron stem screwed into the bottom of said cup, a yoke E, screwed upon t the inner end of the stem, and a screw workving in the yoke above and in line with the bore of the stem to regulate the feed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

